Taping machine



y 5, 1950 E. HOFFMANN ETAL 2,516,212

TAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1947 fnuenfomsv Patented July 25, 1950 3 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE TAPING MACHINE Elmer, L. Hoffm-ann, Park Ridge, and: John w. Utecht, Chicago, IlI.,. assignors to Raymond T.- Mol'oney, Chicago, Ill. Application August23, 1947, Serial No. 770,252

isClaims.

r The. present. invention ment in taping machines, and more particularly to an improvement whereby a taping machine may be employed to apply a. pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a cable, harness, or similar as? semblies.

Heretofore, taping machines have been devised for applying. tape: or similar wrapping materials to various objects-such as electrical cables or harnesses. Up to the present time it has been customary to apply a binding or tape consisting of fabric to a cable or a, harness and fastening the tape in position by the use of an adhesive or varnish. While such machines are entirely satisfactory where the tape is to be wrapped about certain coil windings and the like as in the instance of field. windings, eta for electricaljmm tors and machines. which subsequently must be impregnated, it would. be. desirable in the: instance of cables and. electrical harness to employ a. tape having pressure. sensitive adhesive: quality. Thus far it has not been possible to employ either a tape of this kind or a tape having a high coefficient of friction.

Sometimes it is desired to bind together into a cable a number of conductors to facilitate installation and handling thereof. Whereas this has been accomplished by hand lacing, it would be desirable to reduce the labor involved by taping the cables by machine by means of suitable tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive or friction surface. Such tape could -be cloth, paper, plastic or the like. Where the cable is to be protected against moisture, corrosive fumes and vapors, a vinyl plastic tape having a pressure sensitive surface may be employed. It is to be understood that a pressure sensitive adhesive surface includes all types of adhesive including a friction type wherever the tape can be secured in position solely by the use of pressure.

In accordance with the present invention it is possible to employ tape of pressure sensitive or friction type in a, taping machine thereby materially reducing the time and cost involved in such taping processes as compared to the use of the previously employed conventional type of tape and binding. Therefore, it is unnecessary to apply individually the adhesive or fastening means in the form of varnish and the like, as has been customary in the past.

In accordance with the present invention a roll of tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive surface is placed upon a bobbin of the taping machine. One end of the tape is pressed against relates to an: improveare provided for avoiding, any sliding contact between the tape and any portion": of the taping machine. This is accomplishedv by an improved type of winding fork and auxiliary receiving means or rollers for passing the tape from thebobbin to the point of; applicationof' the: tape on the cable or harness.

It is, therefore; an object of. the presentinverr tion to provide an improved method; of an apparatus for applying pressure sensitive? tape to harnesses, cables andvthelike.

A further object of. the present invention is to provide an: improved taping: machine forap' plying pressure sensitive adhesive tape to" such devices as cables, harnesses and! the like.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide in a taping machine an. improved fork for the shuttle.

Other and further objects of the present in.

vention subsequently will become apparent; by

reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side View of the principal portion of a taping machine which embodies the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view of a portion of the machine shown in Figure 1 as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 22.

By referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the taping machine has a frame II which carries a pair of pulleys l2 which engage belts l3 and I4. Belt I3 engages a pulley on an electric motor, the starting and stopping of which is usually controlled by a treadle operated switch. The belt l4 passes over a pair of idler pulleys l5 and I6 located adjacent the front of the machine. From the idler pulleys l5 and Hi the belt passes about a shuttle IT. A tension pulley mounted on an adjustable arm I9 is held in position by a, screw 2| which passes through the bracket 19 and a slot 22 in the frame II. The bracket l9 fits within a groove or recess 23 formed in the frame II.

The shuttle I7 is held in position by a shuttle retaining bearing ring 24 which is held in position by a plurality of screws 25. It will be noted that adjacent surfaces of the shuttle l1 and the retaining ring 24 have a stepped configuration so as to retain the shuttle I! in position. In Figure 1 it will be noted that the shuttle I1 carries a spindle or bobbin 26 for supporting a roll of tape 20.

From Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the shuttle I! carries a winding fork 21 having its forward end held in a block 28 held in position by a set screw 29. The other extremity of the fork 21 is held in position by a block 3| which is held in position by a pair of screws 32. The screws 32 each carry one of a pair of rollers 33. The fork 2! is so arranged that the angular relation of'the fork as carried by the shuttle 11 may be adjusted thereby to determine the angle at which the tape 20 is applied to a cable or harness 34. By proper adjustment of the fork 21 it is possible to cause the tape to be wound in adjacent or overlapping relation as well a in spaced relation as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that the fork '21 at an intermediate point is provided with a pair of support studs or posts 35 which supports a roller 36. The roller 36 changes the direction of the tape so as to control the angle at which the tape is being applied to the cable or harness 34. The position of the roller 36 may be adjusted by loosening the screws 29 and 32, moving the fork 28 to properly position the roller 36 and then retightening the screws 29 and 32.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the present invention, a preferred embodiment has been shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention i not to be limited thereby since such variations in the instrumentalities employed and in their arrangement are contemplated as may be commensurate with the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What we desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is claimed as follows:

1. In a taping machine, the combination comprising a rotary shuttle, a bobbin for said shuttle for holding a roll of pressure sensitive tape, a fork for said shuttle angularly adjustable about its longitudinal axis, a roller mounted on an intermediate portion of said fork, and a roller mounted on said shuttle adjacent one end of said 4 fork, said rollers being arranged to reduce the friction of the tape between said bobbin and a workpiece adjacent said fork which is to be taped.

2. In a, taping machine having a rotary shuttle, a bobbin mounted on the periphery of said shuttle for holding a roll of pressure sensitive tape, the combination comprising a fork for said shuttle angularly adjustable about its longitudinal axis, a roller mounted on an intermediate portion of said fork, and a pair of rollers mounted on said shuttle adjacent one end of said fork, said roller being arranged to guide portions of the tape between said bobbin and said rollers mounted on an intermediate portion of said fork.

3. In a taping machine having a rotary shuttle, a bobbin mounted on the periphery of said shuttle for holding a roll of tape having a pressure sensitive surface, the combination comprising a fork for said shuttle angularly adjustable about its longitudinal axis, adapted to serve as a guide for a workpiece using tape, a roller mounted transversely to the axis of said fork at an intermediate portion thereof, and a pair of rollers mounted on said shuttle adjacent one end of said fork to guide the tape extending between said bobbin and said roller mounted on said fork.

EIMER L. HOFFMANN. JOHN W. UTECHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,094,047 Ames Apr. 21, 1914 1,541,626 Chapman June 9, 1925 1,549,113 Grove Aug. 11, 1925 2,221,555 Reynolds Nov. 12, 1940 2,275,858 Mallard Mar. 10, 1942 

